AP Physics - Mathematics Review

AP Physics - Mathematics Review of Prerequisite Skills  Scientific Notation  Coefficient times power of ten  multiplying: multiply coefficients & add exponents  dividing: divide coefficients & subtract exponents  Significant Figures  Non-zero digits are significant.  Zeroes as placeholders are not significant.  Trapped Zeroes are significant.  Zeroes at the end of a number after a decimal are significant.

 Addition/Subtraction: The answer can be no more exact than the least exact measurement.

 Multiplication/Division: The answer can have no more significant figures than the least number of sigfigs in any measurement.

 Sig figs are expressed in the coefficient of scientific notation  Units  mks … meters, kilograms, seconds are the basic SI units of measure of length, mass, and time  derived units are combinations of mks  should always be included in a final answer  will add, subtract, multiply or divide like variables…do the same operations on the variables as the numbers.

 Conversions  Use dimensional analysis: converting from one unit to another using a conversion factor. A conversion factor is a fraction that equals one.

 Or ‘ole king Henry’s decimal places… k H D B d c m o kilo- (k) 1000 or x 103 o centi- (c) 1/100 or x 10-2 o milli- (m) 1/1000 or x 10-3

 Algebraic Expressions  Webster’s defines expression as “the means by which some truth or idea is conveyed”

 Right Triangles

 c b

 a  Pythagorean Theorem

 SOH CAH TOA

 Sinθ = opposite / hypotenuse

 Cosθ = adjacent / hypotenuse

 Tanθ = opposite / adjacent